Denver Nuggets look to bounce back vs Memphis Grizzlies

The Nuggets are looking to avenge their Tuesday night loss against the Los Angeles Clippers as they head to Memphis to take on the reeling Grizzlies.

Tuesday’s game for the Nuggets marked one of the biggest low points of the season as the team blew a 19 point lead in a game they desperately needed to win. The Nuggets now have to go on the road for their next three games, and that starts Friday night in Memphis. The good news for the Nuggets is that the Grizzlies seem to be in full tank mode and are one of the worst teams not just in the Western Conference, but in the entire NBA.

With a record of 18-42, the Grizzlies have lost their last 11 games and have won just two of their last fifteen. Their last win came on January 29th against the Phoenix Suns, which meant the Grizzlies were unable to secure a victory in the month of February. Things are so bad for the Grizzlies that Marc Gasol compared his team to a G-League team and seems very unhappy in the situation he’s currently in.

Gasol will be the biggest force the Nuggets will have to stop on Friday night as he’s averaging 17.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and four assists per game. The Grizzlies have caught the injury bug of late, and will have a lot of guys out for Friday nights game.

The biggest storyline for the Nuggets will be how they bounce back after one of their worst losses of the season. The Nuggets sit at eigth in the West after the Clippers lost to the Rockets two days ago, and trail the New Orleans Pelicans by two games for the fifth spot in the West. With a record of 33-28, the Nuggets are just one game ahead of the Clippers in the win column and are just two games clear of the streaking Utah Jazz from the 10th spot.

Another storyline to watch for the Nuggets will be how Paul Millsap plays in his second game after a 44 game absence. Millsap played well against the Clippers scoring nine points and hauling in seven rebounds in his 23 minutes of action. Millsap’s minutes restriction is set between 18-24, and the plan is for that to continue for at least the next couple of games.

Michael Malone said today that he “can’t wait really long” to insert Paul Millsap back into the starting lineup. “It’s delaying the inevitable,” Malone said. Millsap will be back in the starting lineup next week, per Malone and his 24 minute limit will remain for now.

Hopefully the Nuggets are able to take care of business against the Grizzlies and Millsap will be able to get more rest in preparation for the teams matchup against the Cavaliers on Saturday night. The fact that the Nuggets are playing a great team in the Cavs on Saturday night is just more incentive to take care of business on Friday night in Memphis. The Nuggets can’t afford to overlook the Grizzlies as a loss to one of the worst teams in the NBA could be devastating. If the Nuggets come out of the gates running and gunning, than there’s no reason they should have any trouble in Memphis on Friday night.

Stay tuned to Dig In Denver to see if the Nuggets were able to bounce back against the Grizzlies.